Action Plan - Department of Education and Skills

Action Plan for Education

2017

Action Plan for Education 2017

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

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Foreword by the Minister

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Statement by the Secretary General

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Our ambition for Education and Training

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Our Strategy

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Themes for 2017

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Our approach

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Working with other Government Departments

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The Action Plan process

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Goal 1: Improve the learning experience and the success of learners

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What we aim to achieve

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Key Themes for 2017

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Objective 1.1- Improve services and resources to promote wellbeing in our school

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communities to support success in school and life

Objective 1.2- Deliver a "Step-change" in the development of critical skills, knowledge and 18 competences to provide the foundations for participation in work and society

Objective 1.3- Increase subject choice for learners in Senior Cycle to equip them with the 22 skills and knowledge to participate in a changing world

Objective 1.4- Improve the transition of learners at critical stages in the education and

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training system

Objective 1.5- Increase the use of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment so that learners 24 are equipped with the necessary skills to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing learning environment

Objective 1.6- Enable learners communicate effectively and improve their standards of

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competence in languages

Goal 1 Targets and indicators

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Goal 2: Improve the progress of learners at risk of educational disadvantage or learners 29 with special educational needs

What we aim to achieve

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Key Themes for 2017

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Objective 2.1- Improve the learning experience and learning outcomes for learners impacted 31 by disadvantage

Objective 2.2- Target policies and supports for learners with special education needs to 33 support their participation and progression across the continuum of education

Goal 2 Targets and indicators

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Goal 3: Help those delivering education services to continuously improve

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What we aim to achieve

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Key Themes for 2017

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Objective 3.1- Increase the quality of Early Years to deliver a better learning experience for 38 young children

Objective 3.2- Develop the continuum of teacher education to equip teachers with the right 39 skills for 21st century teaching and learning and improve school leadership

Objective 3.3- Improve quality, promote excellence and innovation, and increase autonomy 41 for schools

Objective 3.4- Promote high quality learning experiences in Further Education and Training 42 and Higher Education

Goal 3 Targets and indicators

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Goal 4: Build stronger bridges between education and the wider community

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What we aim to achieve

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Key Themes for 2017

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Objective 4.1- Increase opportunities for schools to support their local communities through 49 the utilisation of school buildings and facilities out of hours

Objective 4.2- Strengthen the role of parents and students, and deliver progress in providing 49 greater school choice

Objective 4.3- Enhance our capacity to meet national and regional skills needs

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Objective 4.4- Create a greater diversity of learning opportunities beyond school

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Objective 4.5- Enhance support for learners to make informed career choices

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Objective 4.6- Create a stronger focus on Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation

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Objective 4.7- Work with enterprise to increase the number of researchers and institute a 58 new programme of funding for Frontiers Research

Objective 4.8- Position Ireland as a desirable location for international students

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Goal 4 Targets and indicators

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Goal 5 - Improve national planning and support services

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What we aim to achieve

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Key Themes for 2017

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Objective 5.1- Strengthen strategic oversight and focus on delivery for results

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Objective 5.2- Deliver appropriate infrastructure for learning environments

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Objective 5.3- Improve the quality of the national support services and shared services

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Goal 5 Targets and indicators

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Appendix 1- Bodies under the aegis of the Department

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Appendix 2- Acronyms

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Appendix 3- DES commitments arising from the Programme for a Partnership Government 78

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ACTION PLAN FOR EDUCATION 2017

INTRODuCTION

Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 including the Statement of Strategy was launched in September 2016. As part of the Plan we are committed to actively monitoring progress against plans, to engaging with stakeholders to learn from experience and to adopt a planning approach that enables us to meet emerging challenges over the lifetime of the Plan. In October 2016 we initiated a consultation process to gather feedback on AP-Ed 2016-2019 and to inform the development of a specific Action Plan for 2017. Consultation activity included an online call for submissions, input from other Departments, regional fora, thematic workshops and other meetings with key stakeholders. Since the launch of the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 and Statement of Strategy substantial and significant progress has been made towards achieving our goals and objectives. 82% of actions targeted for delivery by the end of 2016 have been achieved including: a major increase in the number of inspections in Early Years settings; publication of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016; commencement of the Fitness to Teach provisions of the Teaching Council Act; launch of the new Junior Cycle Business Studies and Science subject specifications; publication of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022; allocation of funding for an additional 430 Resource Teachers; funding and launch of the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH); and launch of the International Education Strategy. Action Plan 2017 is derived from the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 and builds on the progress made to date and incorporates feedback from the consultation process. It reaffirms our vision and ambition to create the best education and training service in Europe by 2026. It reiterates our five key goals and over 400 actions and subactions to be achieved before the end of 2017. Action Plan for Education 2017 represents the significant strategic reform programme under way in education and training and recognises the importance of critical business functions to ensure business continuity and quality of service to all our stakeholders. The publication of an annual plan within a broader strategic framework, enables us to respond in an agile way to the demands of the challenging and complex environment in which we operate while maintaining a strategic focus for sustainable reform over the next decade. Challenges of political change both nationally and internationally, including Brexit, the growing demand for upskilling and reskilling for those in employment, innovations in technology and changing demographics and demands for places are some of the factors to which we must respond in 2017. Key themes and projects for 2017 include: work on promoting and supporting Wellbeing; tackling disadvantage and the launch of a new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion; setting targets and taking action on STEM; publication of the Interim Review of Literacy and Numeracy Strategy; introducing a new Resource Teacher Allocation Model; using digital technologies to enhance teaching, learning and assessment; increasing competence in foreign languages; strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation and building leadership capacity; embedding a new model of inspections; focused engagement with enterprise; and enhancing apprenticeships. We will publish progress reports against the actions in AP-Ed 2017 every quarter and we will publish an end of year review of 2017 and a plan for 2018 to build and consolidate progress towards the achievement of a long term, sustainable programme of change and reform.

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